I graduated from Rock Bridge High School in 1988. After High School I enlisted and served four years in the United States Marine Corps. After the end of my contract, I attended Columbia College until 1997 where I earned a Bachelors degree in History/Government. After working in the food service industry for a few years I decided to go back to school at Southern Illinois University School of Law where I earned my Juris Doctorate.  I passed the Missouri Bar in 2007. I am licensed in Missouri and the United States Supreme Court.

After passing the bar, I worked for the Missouri State Public Defender Office.  After working there for five years I decided it was time to go into private practice.  After 9 years in private practice I am back at the Public Defender Office.

I retired from the military after 31+ years where I advanced to the position of Command Sergeant Major.  I have served 3 combat deployments throughout my time in the military, one deployment was in Iraq in 2005 another in Afghanistan in 2009 and a third in JOrdan in 2020.